Drinking Hydrogen Water Enhances Endurance and Relieves Psychometric Fatigue: Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Study

Abstract

Acute physical exercise increases reactive oxygen species in skeletal muscle, leading to tissue damage and fatigue. Molecular hydrogen (H2) acts as a therapeutic antioxidant directly or indirectly by inducing anti-oxidative enzymes. Here, we examined the effects of drinking H2 water (H2-infused water) on psychometric fatigue and endurance capacity in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled fashion. In experiment 1 all participants drank only placebo water in the first cycle ergometer exercise session, and for comparison they drank either H2 water or placebo water 30 min before exercise in the second examination. In these healthy non-trained participants (n=99), psychometric fatigue judged by visual analogue scales (VAS) was significantly decreased in the H2 group after mild exercise. When each group was divided into two subgroups, the subgroup with higher VAS values was more sensitive to the effect of H2. In experiment 2, trained participants (n=60) were subjected to moderate exercise by cycle ergometer in a similar way as in experiment 1, but exercise was performed 10 min after drinking H2 water. Endurance and fatigue were significantly improved in the H2 group as judged by maximal oxygen consumption and Borg’s scale, respectively. Taken together, drinking H2 water just before exercise exhibited anti-fatigue and endurance effects.

Study details

Article type

Original Research

Disease / injury model

Fatigue/Exercise-induced fatigue in healthy humans

Duration

2 weeks

Dose comparison

Two different concentrations of hydrogen water (0.8 mg/L and 1.0 mg/L) were used in the two experiments, and timing of administration (30 min vs 10 min before exercise) was also compared.

Dose-dependent effect

Yes

Outcome

Positive

Findings

Drinking hydrogen water before exercise significantly reduced psychometric fatigue (VAS) in non-trained participants after mild exercise and improved endurance (VO2 max) and reduced fatigue (Borg’s scale) in trained participants after moderate exercise. The effects were more pronounced in those with higher baseline fatigue and with more intense exercise.